Richard Grenellthe president’s envoy donald trump for special missions, said he spoke with several officials in Venezuela on Monday and would begin meetings early Tuesday.
“Diplomacy is back,” Grenell said in a post on X revealing his initial calls. “Talking is a tactic.”
A source familiar with the matter said Grenell, who served as acting intelligence chief at the end of the Trump’s first term He planned to meet with Venezuelan opposition officials in Washington on Tuesday.
For his part, the head of the Interior of Venezuela and first vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Diosdado Hairwished this Monday “the best” to the American people after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, elected as the 47th president of the United States.
“We wish for peace to reign in the world. A very complicated and difficult period that comes, above all, due to the conditions in which the people of the United States find themselves. There is a lot of internal work that needs to be done to serve these people,” Cabello said during a PSUV press conference, broadcast on the state channel. VTV.
When asked about whether Nicolas Maduro would be willing to talk with Trump to reestablish diplomatic relations with the United States, broken in 2019, Cabello responded that the “head of state” is “in charge of all international relations.”
“The president has said it I don’t know how many times. Respect is the only thing we ask for. We respect them all. Let them respect us and we will have transparent relations with whoever,” said the official.
Likewise, he reiterated that “the relations that exist with the United States or with any country in the world depend on the president” and added that “any decision that Maduro makes will be supported by the PSUV.
“If the United States wants a relationship of respect, here is our hand”, indicated Cabello.
Last November, Maduro expressed that Trump’s victory represents a “new beginning” for both countries and affirmed that he is open to “joint working relations” with whoever wants to invest in Venezuela, which, he assured, he has expressed to “all “Americans” who visit the oil country.
Sanctions imposed by Washington weigh on Venezuela, which has granted licenses to transnational companies to operate in this nation, among them, the North American company Chevron.
Trump’s team is shaping a plan to force an end to more than two decades of Chavismo in Venezuela, starting with the possible termination of Chevron’s license, which would affect the delicate cohesion of the Chavista Administration, and a negotiated exit of Maduro to exile “in less time” than is believed, according to Trump sources recently said.
Besides, Edmundo González Urrutia expressed his gratitude after the invitation to the inauguration of donald trumpspecifically thanks to Senator Rick Scott as host of the Venezuelan opposition.
“Senator, it has been an honor! I remain committed to working together to rescue democracy in Venezuela,” González published on his X account.
“It has been a privilege to be among the few guests. This demonstrates the commitment of the United States to Venezuelan causeour freedom and reconstruction of democracy,” he added. González highlighted that “alternation, respect for popular sovereignty mark the democratic spirit of this moment.”
Also the Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machadoexpressed his gratitude for González’s presence in Washington “as an act of recognition of the popular sovereignty of Venezuelans.” “We will always remember this testimony of yours, which we will honor very soon in democracy and freedom, when you also join us here, in Venezuela,” he said.
Scott, for his part, was “incredibly proud” to attend Trump’s inauguration today “accompanied by the president-elect of Venezuela, Edmundo González.”
“President-elect González was elected by the people of Venezuelaunder the leadership of María Corina Machado and is a beacon of hope for a new day of freedom for those oppressed by the murderous dictator Nicolás Maduro,” he stated.
Scott denounced that “Maduro deprives the Venezuelan people of their legitimate leader, openly threatens the United States and holds Americans hostage.”
That is why he defends that “the United States will hold Maduro accountable to justice and will not take these threats lightly.” “As governor (of Florida) and senator I have supported the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom and democracy and I hope to have a strong ally in President Trump in the White House who does the same,” he appealed.
(With information from Reuters and Europa Press)
